Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 103 posts

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#71

Post by petcat »

numbsafari wrote: post #44
reactordev wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s just one facet. It’s not just the gig economy is “full”, all economies are “full”. There are not enough jobs for the employable people.

There would be if we were investing in our infrastructure the way we should be, rather than allowing an aging population to hoard their wealth and shirk their responsibilities.

> rather than allowing an aging population to hoard their wealth and shirk their responsibilities.

Middle-class Baby Boomers hoarding their wealth is exactly what we've been teaching them to do for decades. Save save save. I've been hearing it since the 1980s. Social Security is not going to be there for you.

And yet still a large part of them have no meaningful retirement, and no plan.

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#72

Post by Bolwin »

stvltvs wrote: post #33
petcat wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw a statistic that roughly 10% of the US workforce is in some form of "customer-facing service" role and I just have to wonder how many of those jobs are nearly gone, or already gone. Even if it's a 5% reduction, or 3% over the next decade, that seems catastrophic without a completely new category of jobs to replace them. I haven't talked to a cashier at a grocery store in years. It's all self-checkout. I stayed…

I go to a cashier lane whenever possible because shakes fist at cloud no one's paying me to ring up and bag my groceries. Also, unless job automation is tied to some kind of UBI or Freedom Dividend or whatever, we're facing a dystopian future with a starving underclass. Automation is supposed to free us from drudgery and open up more fulfilling work and leisure, not siphon wealth to the capital class. What jobs are p…

No one's paying you to fill up gas either. Do you always go inside and ask someone to do it for you?

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#73

Post by ridgeguy »

petcat wrote: post #6
reactordev wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s just one facet. It’s not just the gig economy is “full”, all economies are “full”. There are not enough jobs for the employable people.

I saw a statistic that roughly 10% of the US workforce is in some form of "customer-facing service" role and I just have to wonder how many of those jobs are nearly gone, or already gone. Even if it's a 5% reduction, or 3% over the next decade, that seems catastrophic without a completely new category of jobs to replace them. I haven't talked to a cashier at a grocery store in years. It's all self-checkout. I stayed…

Self checkouts are something I avoid unless I'm genuinely pressed for time and there's a self station open. It's a small thing, but I'd rather keep the human checkers employed.

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#75

Post by karakot »

FireBeyond wrote: post #32
int32_64 wrote: post #17

The most meaningful American employment stat should be employed Americans with health insurance. What's the point of being considered 'employed' if you can be wiped out with one trip to the ER?

Mhm. My fiancee had a 2 day stay at hospital (ER, admitted, discharged) that would have run her $58,000 if not for insurance.

Aaaaactually, it's the other way around: the insurance is the only reason it cost $58K.

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#76

Post by Moomoomoo309 »

Bolwin wrote: post #72
stvltvs wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I go to a cashier lane whenever possible because shakes fist at cloud no one's paying me to ring up and bag my groceries. Also, unless job automation is tied to some kind of UBI or Freedom Dividend or whatever, we're facing a dystopian future with a starving underclass. Automation is supposed to free us from drudgery and open up more fulfilling work and leisure, not siphon wealth to the capital class. What jobs are p…

No one's paying you to fill up gas either. Do you always go inside and ask someone to do it for you?

Yeah, that's what the attendant is paid to do (I live in New Jersey). They've tried many times to make self-serve gas legal here, and I won't have it!

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#77

Post by lazide »

reb wrote: post #43
lazide wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you rather not even have the 401(k)? That’s the situation most of the world is in.

Of course not. But it's always worth considering: are those the only options?

looks over at the maniac setting everything on fire from the whitehouse

Sure, but…. really?

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#78

Post by hearsathought »

vondur wrote: post #41

I get the feeling most of the newer jobs that are going to be created are going to be in the blue collar fields and the US isn't geared for providing those. I'm also not sure that people who have been conditioned to work white collar jobs will be happy to work in blue collar jobs.

> I get the feeling most of the newer jobs that are going to be created are going to be in the blue collar fields and the US isn't geared for providing those.

What blue collar field/industry is expected to grow?

> I'm also not sure that people who have been conditioned to work white collar jobs will be happy to work in blue collar jobs.

A quick google search shows about 60% of workers are white collar and about 30% are blue collar. I suspect blue collar workers are not going to be happy with the influx of white collar workers competing for their jobs.

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#79

Post by jm4 »

ulfw wrote: post #66
jm4 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard this from other people. Is there any evidence of it though?

I've had 500 applications over the last four years come back without ever having gotten an interview. With my background and experience I've always gotten at the bare minimum an HR call before. Now none. None of the jobs ads are real.

I hear you. I've been through it too. I'm not necessarily doubting there are fake job postings. Just asking if there's any credible evidence besides our anecdotal accounts.

Is it possible it's largely caused by shitty ATS software that everyone uses and we are mistakenly attributing it to fake job postings?

Re: U.S. unemployment rose in November despite job gains

#80

Post by Bolwin »

givemeethekeys wrote: post #46

Most job listings are fake - keep the investors, competitors and other employees think you are hiring. And who knows, maybe the right resume will actually be worth a look.

Studies have shown at least 30% are ghost jobs, which means in practice probably higher.

Add the fact that they stick around longer and I can comfortably say 50%+ of the jobs people are applying to are fake.

Post reply on HN